Residents complain over rates

Press, 22 July 1986, Page 9

Residents complain over rates

Fifty Aranui residents filled the public seats of the Christchurch City Council chamber last evening to mark their opposition to the $l5O uniform rates charge. , They were supported in their petition to the council calling for the abolition of the charge by two further petitions. One from Beckenham, Boon Hay, Sydenham and Aranui residents carried 280 signatures and said the charge did not take account of the financial resources of individual ratepayers. The other, from 73 Addington residents, said the

rates imposed were too heavy a burden on elderly people. The Aranui petition carried more than 1000 signatures. It said the charge was a means of shifting rates from the affluent suburbs to poorer ones.

The three petitions were received and will be discussed at the policy and finance committee meeting next month. The Aranui residents plan to speak at that meeting. A petition organiser, Mr Roger Jones, was pleased with last evening’s turn-

out. Asked if he thought the residents could change the mind of the council on the uniform charge, which was introduced this year, he said, “We do not know but we can try.”

He reiterated his own strong feeling against following the Merivale example of not paying rates in protest at the rating system.

A fourth petition presented last evening carrying 380 signatures of people opposed to wet bikes at Sumner was referred to the parks and recreation committee.